The future of surgical training at COSECSA 07 Dec 2022 The Global Surgical Training Challenge (GSTC) team and members of the Intuitive Foundation are showcasing the finalist teams’ surgical training modules at the 22nd College of Surgeons of East & Central and Southern Africa (COSECSA) Conference in Windhoek, Namibia. COSECSA is an organisation dedicated to advancing surgical training and post-graduate education in the region. At COSECSA, attendees have the opportunity to discuss what the future of surgical training and innovation looks like, by test driving several of the modules from our finalists teams and self-assessing how they perform on them. Attendees can see how a low-cost, locally-built simulator can teach and assess skills in laparoscopic, orthopaedic, and reconstructive surgery, as well as pre-hospital trauma care. Launching SELF: Surgical Education Learners Forum At the conference, the Intuitive Foundation are launching their SELF: Surgical Education Learners Forum programme, a spin off of the GSTC, which will see through the future of what has been built within the Challenge. “Our intention has been to build and launch a community and a platform upon which other innovators and makers can design and create their own modules to serve the millions of people in need of safe, competent surgical care. This platform will also allow organizations to create integrated courses consisting of a curated set of high quality training modules that meet the needs of that organization.” says Catherine Mohr, President of Intuitive Foundation. At the conference we combine the two initiatives – SELF & GSTC – to drive the final phase of the Challenge Prize and showcase what has been achieved before the Grand Prize announcement in January, while also working towards the future of sustainable surgical training in low and middle income countries, recruiting new module-makers, learners, evaluators, and adding voices to the surgical innovation landscape. Visit us at COSECA We have split the learning on our booth into the three essential parts of each module on the GSTC Appropedia to practise skills and self assessment: Didactic This teaches the necessary knowledge about the disease or medical need, about human anatomy, and surgical approaches. Simulation Students build their own simulators where they can practice and self-assess their skills. They can practice as often as they like, improving each time and building their confidence and competence. Self assessment This allows learners to self-assess their skills rather than receive feedback from a mentor or teacher. The modules we are demonstrating through learning are: ALL-SAFE team’s training modules on Ectopic Pregnancy, Meckel’s Diverticulum, Appendicitis and Penetrating Thoracoabdominal Trauma. AmoSmile’s training modules on Z-Plasty, V-Y flap advancement, and Orthoplastic Reconstruction. Crashsavers’s training modules on Hemorrhage Control, Foley Catheter and Pressure/Wound Packing. Tibial Fracture Fixation’s training modules on Tibial Fracture Fixation, Humeral Fixation Fixation, Pediatric Distal Forearm, and Uniplanar External Fixation. Intuitive Foundation’s president Dr Catherine Mohr will also present two talks on Thursday, 8 December. The first, at 11:30 am local time, is on “Self-Administered Biomedical training as a method for addressing the crisis in medical equipment in Africa.” The second, at 12:45 pm local time, is on “Reducing the Global Burden of Disease in LMICs by Decentralizing Surgical Education.” Not at the conference? You can learn more about SELF: Surgical Education Learners Forum here including a short film about the learning, highlighting innovators and learners, read the new booklet that speaks to the future of training and find out how you can get involved. We will also be sharing updates and imagery from the event on our social media using the hashtag #COSECSA. Twitter LinkedIn Instagram Look out for future announcements on the virtual GSTC Grand Prize Event in January 2023. Registrations opening soon to attend!
